## **UNITED CHURCH FERNDOWN TRUSTEES’ REPORT 2023** ## **Aim and Purposes** The purpose of United Church Ferndown is to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Baptist and United Reformed Church. The Minister(s) and Deacons (Trustees) aim to promote the purpose of the Church and be responsible for the maintenance of the Church premises. ## **Objectives and Activities** The Church premises are open for public worship every Sunday morning. Our services put the Christian faith into action through worship, prayer, bible readings with exposition and communion. When planning our activities the Minister(s) and Deacons (Trustees) have considered the Commission’s guidance on Public benefit and in particular, the guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We engage in a range of activities including: Public worship, teaching of the Christian faith, pastoral work, provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for local community, supporting other charities in the UK and overseas. ## **Achievements and Performance** _The Celebration of Public Worship & the teaching of the Christian Faith_ 2023 has been an exciting and very busy year for the Church and for the Deacons /Trustees. Following the appointment of the Revs Darren and Melanie Pike as part-time ministers in September 2022 this has been their first full year. The year started with sermons thinking about who are we and then went on to think about being rooted in Christ. This continued with our grow principles and some parables, followed by our stepping stones and then advent and Christmas. A definite highlight of the summer was having the privilege to baptise one of our younger people and to see her become a member of the church. It was with sadness however that our Children, Youth and Families Pastor resigned at the end of the year having served for the past 24 years growing and developing this work which has been amazing, particularly going through the pandemic, working through lockdown, and having to re-start and grow the toddlers, youth groups and holiday clubs from scratch. All of which are now looking really healthy with the 2023 holiday club being really positive, well attended and much appreciated by our children and local families. This work continues with the programs and activities oversight provided by the ministers. Our part time administrator also left us during 2023 to take up a full-time position elsewhere. This position has not been replaced, with administrative tasks being shared out among the Trustees and other church members. ## _Mission and Evangelism_ The fortnightly “Lunch Club” continued through 2023 which is open to anyone who wants to meet with others for a reasonably priced lunch. The Church hosts a weekly table tennis group – all are welcome. The Church runs a group for Parent/Carers with their pre-school children called “Tiddlers”. Through the year we regularly saw around 16-20 adults with 25-35 children. During 2023, our children and youth groups ‘Fidget’ (ages 5-8) and ‘Space’ (ages 9-13) and ‘Space Extra’ were able to meet. We continued to see a good number each week. Kids club (the UCF summer holiday club) was run for four days during the week plus a family fun day on the Sunday where we saw over 40 children and young people with their families attend our Church that morning. Our Children, Youth and Families Pastor also participated in school assemblies and lunchtime clubs in the local Ferndown schools. A ”Positive Pumpkin Party” was organised (as an alternative to Halloween) with over 55 adults and children attending. Pumpkins were carved, games played and hot dogs consumed and the year was wrapped up with a crib service and Christmas party. “Messy Church” introduced this year has been a particular highlight with many families joining us and hearing about Jesus and how much he loves them with the Church coming alongside those in our community who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. The local “Fete on the Field” was also an exciting time to meet with new people and also the coronation day. We love to meet outside the church building and be church amongst the community. It really is where Jesus would love us to be. A team from the church also took a monthly service for residents and staff at Fernhill Dementia Care Home. ## _Pastoral Care_ UCF has now adopted a pastoral care policy. This year has seen us visit many people pastorally and we have had the great pleasure of meeting with and praying for many of our church community as well as those outside. We continued to keep in touch with those who still felt the need to self-isolate by using WhatsApp, telephone and e-mail. Our services are “streamed” and can be watched on YouTube. ## _The Church Premises_ The Church buildings are not only available for Church run events but are used by the community for meetings, children parties etc. In addition to the regularly run Church activities, “Thermal Thursday” was reintroduced in 2023 where people in the community can meet in a warm and safe environment, meeting new friends, chatting, playing games and doing puzzles. Free tea and coffee was served at all times as well as free soup and roll at 5pm. There were four regular external bookings during the year. All hall hirers must adhere to the Church lettings policy, health and safety policy and young people and adults at risk Safeguarding Policy. The upkeep of the premises is an important consideration of the Trustees. ## _Support of Charities in the UK and Overseas_ Throughout the year, we have kept in regular contact with our missionary friends at home and abroad. Monthly prayer meetings on zoom have enabled some of our missionary friends to join us and update us on their work. We were pleased to receive visits from our contacts working with WEC in Thailand and a representative of Arab World Ministries who updated us on the work in North Africa One of our ministers also visited Moldova for a week supporting the work of Link to Hope in a church building project and gave a slide presentation of the work done during her visit. The Church has financially supported a number of missions as shown in the accounts. ## **Financial Review** 2023 was our first full year with our new Ministers in post. It was also a year when activities were back to ‘normal’ without Covid restrictions. The general receipts and payments account is showing a deficit of £2,236.72. The previous year was a surplus of £10,140.15. ## _General Receipts_ The monthly/weekly offering for 2023 has overall remained at a similar level to 2022. Although monthly income at the start of the year was higher than 2022, whilst in the latter part of the year income has been lower than 2022. Income tax recovered on gifts increased in 2023. Due partly to the higher amount we were able to claim under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme, as in 2023 we had a full year of taking up an offering in our services. We ended 2023 with our overall income being just under £18,000 below the previous year. The reduction of income was mainly due to no manse rental income and that in 2022 we received a grant from the Sylvia Adams Trust towards the replacement Church heating boiler and children’s work. ## _General Payments_ Our new Ministers were appointed in August 2022, hence the variation between Ministry expenditure in 2023 compared to 2022. We continued to support our partner Missions/Missionaries with grants as agreed in the budget. Our Church Administrator moved on to new employment and has currently not been replaced, hence 2023 expenditure is lower than 2022. ## **Reserves Policy** It is the policy of the charity to maintain a minimum level of unrestricted funds, which are the available reserves of the charity, at a level that equates to six months’ of unrestricted expenditure. It is felt that this would be sufficient to continue the activities of the charity in the event of a significant loss of income. Unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2023 were sufficient to adhere to the policy. ## **Volunteers** We continue to be grateful to Church members and all those who volunteer and work so hard to make United Church Ferndown such a welcoming and active community. We would not be able to run so many activities without their support. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The method of appointing Trustees is set out in the Church Governing Document and Church Rules. Whilst legally the Trustees are empowered to make binding decisions the traditional practice is that the ultimate decision-maker is the Church Members meeting. Day to day running of Church affairs is delegated to the elected Deacons (maximum 8) who, together with the appointed Minister(s) of the day, form the Charity Trustees, who meet as required, usually monthly except August or more frequently if occasion demands. The Trustees may also appoint no more than two Co-opted Trustees. ## **Administrative Information** The United Church Ferndown is situated at 505 Wimborne Road East, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9NF. Charity Registration number is 1159971. The Trustees during the calendar year 2023 were: Ministers: Rev. Darren Pike Rev. Melanie Pike Deacons: Arthur Ansell Angela Ball (Until 29 March 2023) Natalie Butler (From 29 March 2023) Steve Ford David Hamblin (Secretary) Angela Jameson (Treasurer) Janet Latham Ian Pethick (From 29 March 2023) Alison Vincent (Until 29 March 2023) Peter Vincent (Co-opted in June 2023) There are currently (as at July 2024) 8 Deacons serving the Church Some of the Church Secretarial tasks are undertaken by other Deacons. ## **UNITED CHURCH FERNDOWN - Registered Charity Number: 1159971 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT** |**_Note_**
**Receipts**
Monthly/Weekly Offering
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Manse rental income
Interest (Bank & HMRC)
Rents and contributions for use of premises
**Payments**
Ministry
3
Children, Youth & Families Work
4
Mission
5
Upkeep of Church premises
6
Administration
7
Church other expenses
8
Manse letting expenses
Manse loan repayment - capital element
Manse Improvements
**Surplus (deficit) for the year**
**Balance brought forward**
**Transfer to Designated Funds**
**Balance carried forward**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2022**
**Transfer In**
**Transfer Out**
**B/Fwd**
Tree work (Church grounds)
1,550.00
£
-
£
50.00
£
Equipment
1,830.00
£
50.00
£
Manse improvements
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
9,380.00
£
50.00
£
50.00
£|**_Note_**
**Receipts**
Monthly/Weekly Offering
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Manse rental income
Interest (Bank & HMRC)
Rents and contributions for use of premises
**Payments**
Ministry
3
Children, Youth & Families Work
4
Mission
5
Upkeep of Church premises
6
Administration
7
Church other expenses
8
Manse letting expenses
Manse loan repayment - capital element
Manse Improvements
**Surplus (deficit) for the year**
**Balance brought forward**
**Transfer to Designated Funds**
**Balance carried forward**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2022**
**Transfer In**
**Transfer Out**
**B/Fwd**
Tree work (Church grounds)
1,550.00
£
-
£
50.00
£
Equipment
1,830.00
£
50.00
£
Manse improvements
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
9,380.00
£
50.00
£
50.00
£|**2023**
**2022**
69,533.44
£
69,336.01
£
2,607.88
£
15,211.40
£
15,412.60
£
14,047.21
£
-
£
7,452.00
£
1,082.66
£
215.16
£
3,127.00
£
3,473.32
£| |---|---|---| |||91,763.58
£
109,735.10
£| |||48,327.60
£
32,653.13
£
19,199.60
£
18,520.09
£
8,310.12
£
9,088.35
£
8,533.00
£
11,307.98
£
3,570.81
£
6,568.20
£
4,668.93
£
4,514.83
£
-
£
894.24
£
1,390.24
£
3,383.59
£
-
£
12,664.54
£| |||94,000.30
£
99,594.95
£| |||2,236.72
-£
10,140.15
£
67,478.36
£
66,066.21
£
-
£
8,728.00
-£
65,241.64
£
67,478.36
£
**Payments**
**2023**
**C/Fwd**
1,500.00
£
-
£
1,471.57
£
408.43
£
-
£
6,000.00
£| ||9,380.00
£
50.00
£
50.00
£|2,971.57
£
6,408.43
£| |**RESTRICTED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
Mission
9
Manse Loan Repayment
Youth & Childrens work
Choir Funds
Table Tennis
Flower Fund
West Moors Churches Together|**2022**
**2023**
**B/Fwd**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
**C/Fwd**
3,647.56
£
2,550.67
£
1,135.67
£
5,062.56
£
-
£
3,262.50
£
3,262.50
£
-
£
2,074.31
£
-
£
714.08
£
1,360.23
£
320.96
£
-
£
320.96
£
1,450.00
£
-
£
200.00
£
1,250.00
£
-
£
218.29
£
218.29
£
-
£
112.75
£
-
£
112.75
£
-
£| |---|---| ||7,605.58
£
6,031.46
£
5,643.29
£
7,993.75
£| Page 1 of 4 ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**_Note_**
**ASSETS**
Bank and other cash balances
**REPRESENTING BALANCE ON THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS:**
General Fund
Designated Funds
Restricted Mission fund
Restricted - Table Tennis Club
Restricted - Choir
Restricted - Youth & childrens work
Restricted - West Moors Churches together
**LIABILITIES**
11
Current
Long-term loans
**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**|**2023**
**2022**
79,643.82
£
84,463.94
£| |---|---| ||65,241.64
£
67,478.36
£
6,408.43
£
9,380.00
£
5,062.56
£
3,647.56
£
1,250.00
£
1,450.00
£
320.96
£
320.96
£
1,360.23
£
2,074.31
£
-
£
112.75
£| ||79,643.82
£
84,463.94
£| ||5,062.56
£
3,657.56
£
11,707.71
£
16,360.45
£| **1 Basis of accounts:** These accounts have been prepared on a 'receipts and payments' basis and accord with Section 133 Charities Act 2011 |**2 Donations and other income:**
Donations
Gift Day Donations
Sylvia Adams Grant
SCBA Warm Space Grant
Lunch Club
Coffee Donations
Church Events
Wedding Fees
Children & Youth Groups Funds
Other items
**3 Ministry:**
Ministers' stipend & pension contribution
Ministers' expenses
Ministers' conferences
Ministers' Training
Ministers' moving expenses
Pension deficit contributions
Moderator
Manse expenses
Manse maintenance
Manse loan interest
Pulpit Supply|**2023**
**2022**
325.00
£
602.50
£
-
£
3,820.00
£
-
£
9,000.00
£
-
£
500.00
£
1,249.14
£
1,079.58
£
90.00
£
40.00
£
265.48
£
-
£
200.00
£
-
£
475.75
£
-
£
2.51
£
169.32
£| |---|---| ||2,607.88
£
15,211.40
£| ||39,702.61
£
15,098.00
£
1,191.63
£
413.28
£
673.22
£
-
£
324.00
£
-
£
-
£
5,148.00
£
12.00
£
2,113.40
£
-
£
6,373.55
£
4,830.61
£
1,424.06
£
583.77
£
199.43
£
1,009.76
£
819.41
£
-
£
1,064.00
£| ||48,327.60
£
32,653.13
£| Page 2 of 4 |**4 Children, Youth & Families Work**
CY&F Pastor pay & pension contribution
CY&F Pastor expenses
Youth Workers Retreat
CY&FW expenses
**5 Mission:**
SCBA Home Mission
URC M & M Fund
Hope Now
Laura Weeds (W.E.C.)
Dave & Michele Mahon (B.M.S.)
Helen & Adrian Harrod (O.M.)
Arab World Ministries
Link to Hope
Tim Spring (London City Mission)
Myra's Wells
CAP
Local Outreach
**6 Upkeep of Church premises:**
Lighting & Heat
Water & Sewage
Cleaning (incl. wages)
Insurance
Repairs/maintenance & improvements
**7 Administration:**
Printing & Stationery
Telephone
Office Equipment
Administrator
Accounts Examiniation
**8 Church other expenses:**
CCL Licence
Coffee/Catering
Subscriptions
Training
Flowers
Pastoral Vacancy Search Expenses
Other|**2023**
**2022**
18,947.64
£
18,146.52
£
197.10
£
94.50
£
-
£
150.00
£
54.86
£
129.07
£| |---|---| ||19,199.60
£
18,520.09
£| ||1,500.00
£
1,500.00
£
1,500.00
£
1,500.00
£
750.00
£
875.00
£
750.00
£
875.00
£
750.00
£
875.00
£
750.00
£
875.00
£
875.00
£
875.00
£
12.05
£
-
£
300.00
£
300.00
£
-
£
224.00
£
750.00
£
1,075.00
£
373.07
£
114.35
£| ||8,310.12
£
9,088.35
£| ||2,686.77
£
2,408.17
£
114.19
£
78.60
£
3,621.73
£
3,477.29
£
1,068.45
£
1,006.93
£
1,041.86
£
4,336.99
£| ||8,533.00
£
11,307.98
£| ||676.32
£
231.79
£
490.96
£
516.53
£
-
£
40.68
£
2,323.53
£
5,699.20
£
80.00
£
80.00
£| ||3,570.81
£
6,568.20
£| ||867.28
£
819.17
£
376.63
£
396.32
£
252.35
£
508.28
£
340.00
£
45.00
£
533.12
£
560.17
£
-
£
1,092.05
£
2,299.55
£
1,093.84
£| ||4,668.93
£
4,514.83
£| Page 3 of 4 |**9 Restricted Mission/Charity Payments**
Muluote - (Christian Education Centre, Nagaland)
Tear Fund - Harvest Appeal
Tear Fund - Big Quiz
Biggin Hill Romania Group
Hope for Food
Bus Stop Club
CAP
Link to Hope - Shoe Boxes
Link to Hope - Moldova
BMS Birthdays
Barnabas - Ukraine
BMS - Ukraine
Myra's Wells|**2023**
**2022**
-
£
-
£
15.00
£
656.97
£
100.00
£
-
£
-
£
66.25
£
-
£
7.50
£
-
£
78.03
£
-
£
71.25
£
206.95
£
92.50
£
692.97
£
-
£
113.75
£
195.00
£
-
£
62.50
£
-
£
170.00
£
7.00
£
-
£| |---|---| ||1,135.67
£
1,400.00
£| ## **10 Non-monetary assets:** Manse - 29 Heath Farm Road, Ferndown. BH22 8JN Cost £ 284,985.00 The Church also owns fixtures, furniture & equipment with an insurance value of £117,409 |**11 Liabilities:**
**(a) Current:**BMS Birthdays
Muluote
Restricted Mission
**(b) Long-term loan:**Baptist Union Corporation|**2023**
**2022**
20.00
£
-
£
5,042.56
£
3,657.56
£| |---|---| ||5,062.56
£
3,657.56
£
11,707.71
£
16,360.45
£| Loan relates to manse purchase. The original loan end date was February 2035. The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 & 2 relating to the year ending 31 December 2023 are as approved by the Deacons. Angela Jameson - Church Treasurer Page 4 of 4 Report of the Independent Examiner to the Twstees of United Church Ferndown On the accounts for the year ended 31" December 2023 Re5pe¢tive responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The Church's Trustees are ￿sponsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination ts needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertions given by the Charity Commission lunder section 14515llbl of the Charities Att. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent examinerfs statement My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented wtth those records. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequentty no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limwted to those matter5 set out in the ststement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my exarnination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: • accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord wtth the accounting records the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts Set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2CK18 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have come across no other matter5 in connection with the examination to which attentbon should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed by oron ￿half0f the Examiner Date 0..4 Name: John Berridge Address: 12, Stonechat Close. Ferndown. Dorset. BH22 9QH